War and Peace : Book 05, Chapter 14

1869

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(1828 - 1910) ~ Father of Christian Anarchism : In 1861, during the second of his European tours, Tolstoy met with Proudhon, with whom he exchanged ideas. Inspired by the encounter, Tolstoy returned to Yasnaya Polyana to found thirteen schools that were the first attempt to implement a practical model of libertarian education. (From : Anarchy Archives.) • "People who take part in Government, or work under its direction, may deceive themselves or their sympathizers by making a show of struggling; but those against whom they struggle (the Government) know quite well, by the strength of the resistance experienced, that these people are not really pulling, but are only pretending to." (From : "A Letter to Russian Liberals," by Leo Tolstoy, Au....) • "If, in former times, Governments were necessary to defend their people from other people's attacks, now, on the contrary, Governments artificially disturb the peace that exists between the nations, and provoke enmity among them." (From : "Patriotism and Government," by Leo Tolstoy, May 1....) • "The Government and all those of the upper classes near the Government who live by other people's work, need some means of dominating the workers, and find this means in the control of the army. Defense against foreign enemies is only an excuse. The German Government frightens its subjects about the Russians and the French; the French Government, frightens its people about the Germans; the Russian Government frightens its people about the French and the Germans; and that is the way with all Governments. But neither Germans nor Russians nor Frenchmen desire to fight their neighbors or other people; but, living in peace, they dread war more than anything else in the world." (From : "Letter to a Non-Commissioned Officer," by Leo Tol....)

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Book 05, Chapter 14

CHAPTER XIV

The pilgrim woman was appeased and, being encouraged to talk, gave a long
account of Father Amphilochus, who led so holy a life that his hands
smelled of incense, and how on her last visit to Kiev some monks she knew
let her have the keys of the catacombs, and how she, taking some dried
bread with her, had spent two days in the catacombs with the saints. “I’d
pray awhile to one, ponder awhile, then go on to another. I’d sleep a bit
and then again go and kiss the relics, and there was such peace all
around, such blessedness, that one don’t want to come out, even into the
light of heaven again.”

Pierre listened to her attentively and seriously. Prince Andrew went out
of the room, and then, leaving “God’s folk” to finish their tea, Princess
Mary took Pierre into the drawing room.

“You are very kind,” she said to him.

“Oh, I really did not mean to hurt her feelings. I understand them so well
and have the greatest respect for them.”

Princess Mary looked at him silently and smiled affectionately.

“I have known you a long time, you see, and am as fond of you as of a
brother,” she said. “How do you find Andrew?” she added hurriedly, not
giving him time to reply to her affectionate words. “I am very anxious
about him. His health was better in the winter, but last spring his wound
reopened and the doctor said he ought to go away for a cure. And I am also
very much afraid for him spiritually. He has not a character like us women
who, when we suffer, can weep away our sorrows. He keeps it all within
him. Today he is cheerful and in good spirits, but that is the effect of
your visit—he is not often like that. If you could persuade him to
go abroad. He needs activity, and this quiet regular life is very bad for
him. Others don’t notice it, but I see it.”

Toward ten o’clock the men servants rushed to the front door, hearing the
bells of the old prince’s carriage approaching. Prince Andrew and Pierre
also went out into the porch.

“Who’s that?” asked the old prince, noticing Pierre as he got out of the
carriage.

“Ah! Very glad! Kiss me,” he said, having learned who the young stranger
was.

The old prince was in a good temper and very gracious to Pierre.

Before supper, Prince Andrew, coming back to his father’s study, found him
disputing hotly with his visitor. Pierre was maintaining that a time would
come when there would be no more wars. The old prince disputed it
chaffingly, but without getting angry.

“Drain the blood from men’s veins and put in water instead, then there
will be no more war! Old women’s nonsense—old women’s nonsense!” he
repeated, but still he patted Pierre affectionately on the shoulder, and
then went up to the table where Prince Andrew, evidently not wishing to
join in the conversation, was looking over the papers his father had
brought from town. The old prince went up to him and began to talk
business.

“The marshal, a Count Rostóv, hasn’t sent half his contingent. He came to
town and wanted to invite me to dinner—I gave him a pretty
dinner!... And there, look at this.... Well, my boy,” the old prince went
on, addressing his son and patting Pierre on the shoulder. “A fine fellow—your
friend—I like him! He stirs me up. Another says clever things and
one doesn’t care to listen, but this one talks rubbish yet stirs an old
fellow up. Well, go! Get along! Perhaps I’ll come and sit with you at
supper. We’ll have another dispute. Make friends with my little fool,
Princess Mary,” he shouted after Pierre, through the door.

Only now, on his visit to Bald Hills, did Pierre fully realize the
strength and charm of his friendship with Prince Andrew. That charm was
not expressed so much in his relations with him as with all his family and
with the household. With the stern old prince and the gentle, timid
Princess Mary, though he had scarcely known them, Pierre at once felt like
an old friend. They were all fond of him already. Not only Princess Mary,
who had been won by his gentleness with the pilgrims, gave him her most
radiant looks, but even the one-year-old “Prince Nicholas” (as his
grandfather called him) smiled at Pierre and let himself be taken in his
arms, and Michael Ivánovich and Mademoiselle Bourienne looked at him with
pleasant smiles when he talked to the old prince.

The old prince came in to supper; this was evidently on Pierre’s account.
And during the two days of the young man’s visit he was extremely kind to
him and told him to visit them again.

When Pierre had gone and the members of the household met together, they
began to express their opinions of him as people always do after a new
acquaintance has left, but as seldom happens, no one said anything but
what was good of him.